STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Stations of the Cross will take place each Friday evening during Lent at 7:30 PM. We also encourage your attendance at our daily Mass throughout Lent.

FIRST RECONCILIATION

March 24th at St. Gabriel’s Church at 10:00 AM

First Reconciliation for children attending St. Gabriel’s School, those in the Children’s Faith Program and children attending Private Schools will be held at St. Gabriel’s Church on
Saturday, March 24th at 10:00 AM.

REMEMBRANCE MEAL OF THE PASSOVER

Wednesday, April 4th at 7:00 PM in the Gabriel Room

This annual parish event is again being sponsored by the Pastoral team. Passover is the oldest festival of the Hebrew liturgical calendar. It has been observed by the Jewish people for more than 3,000 years. Passover is a religious family meal celebrating Jewish freedom from slavery. It occurs in the spring, the time of renewal in “Nissan”, the first month of the Hebrew year, and it lasts for eight days. Why do we celebrate this “meal” at St. Gabriel’s? First, this celebration helps us to understand our religious roots, which are Jewish. Second, it is an opportunity for us to celebrate our growth as a community and be together with families and friends at this most special time during Holy Week. Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 by Friday, March 30th to book your table of 6 or 8, or to have your name added to a table.

AN INVITATION TO LEARN!

In past years, Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings have been devoted to religious topics decided on by those who wish to participate.

The Miracles of Jesus (Continued)
Tuesday, March 13th at 7:30 PM
Wednesday, March 14th at 10:30 AM

MARGUERITE BOURGEOYS FAMILY CENTRE

Weekend of March 17th/18th

To raise funds for the Marguerite Bourgeoys Family Centre, the Youth Group of St. Gabriel’s will once again be selling hand-made chocolate Easter eggs for $3.00 each or 2 for $5.00 before and after all the Masses on March 17th/18th.

Your support will help the Centre promote and maintain their service in the Diocese.

JUST COFFEE

Just Coffee will be on sale after all the Masses on the weekend of March 24th/25th, one week later than usual.

SHARELIFE

A donor has challenged parishioners, schools, employee groups and corporate supporters to match up to $650,000 in new and increased contributions to the 2012 ShareLife Campaign. Should we realize the maximum potential of this effort, over one million new dollars would be raised for the work of our agencies. At a time when our social service agencies are reporting increased demands for their services, these new funds would help to introduce new programs and reduce waiting times for services for the marginalized in our communities.

Working wonders for families
At four years old, Joe witnessed his father severely attack his mother and was also a victim of physical abuse. By the time he was seven, his rage was so intense that he would lash out at his mom and sister. Joe’s mother went to Catholic Family Services of Durham’s Safer Families Program to help her learn to manage Joe’s violent behaviour. By processing their trauma, Joe, his mom and his sister are slowly healing, rebuilding their lives and regaining their self-esteem. The Safer Families Program prevented Joe from becoming part of the child welfare system in a punitive way. He looks forward to going back to school soon and seeing his friends again.

Our network of Catholic Family Services offices collectively reach nearly 100,000 clients, serving them in more than 25 languages.

FINANCE CORNER

PRE-AUTHORIZED GIVING OPTION

The “Pre-Authorized Giving” Plan (PAG), authorized and supported by the Archdiocese of Toronto, is a direct debit program. It allows parishioners to make their regular offertory donations by automatic monthly bank withdrawal on or about the 20th of each month. Participation in the PAG provides a regular dependable cash flow of contributions to the parish and enables us to better manage the Parish finances. PAG brochures and sign-up forms are available in the Parish Office and on the tables at the back of the Church.

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2012

Please pick up your 2012 Offertory Boxed Envelopes in the Gabriel Room. This is the most effective way to keep track of your donations. We would like to remind you not to use envelopes from previous years as these numbers have been reassigned to other families.

SCARBORO MISSIONS: A LENTEN EXODUS

Wednesdays 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
2685 Kingston Road at Brimley

Scarboro Missions welcomes you to commune with God to hear the cries of the world in a deeper way.

March 14th: “A Cry for Peace”
Christian Peacemakers Team just returned from Israel-Palestine share their reflections and experience. By Rosemary Williamson, OML and Fathiyeh Gainey

March 21st: “A Cry of the Children”
Film-maker Noemi Weis examines the exploitation of children in the Middle East and Asia in the documentary film “Desert Riders.”

March 28th: A Cry From Africa
Rev. Leshy Paynter, Pastor in New Hampshire returns to Toronto from South Africa with a Message from his people.

QUEEN OF APOSTLES RETREAT CENTRE

Women’s Lenten Retreat Weekend
March 23rd – 25th

Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre will present a Lenten Weekend Retreat for Women on the weekend of March 23rd to 25th. It will be facilitated by the Centre team. God can and does touch and heal hearts through presentations, private reflection and prayer, sharing, reconciliation and Eucharist. For reservation or further information, please call 905-278-5229.

NEW BEGINNINGS: WIDOW / WIDOWERS SUPPORT GROUP

St. Louis de France Church
March 16th – April 27th at 7:30 PM

Looking for hope and guidance after the death of a spouse? In an informal setting we meet for seven weeks, where we share and learn from each other. You are most welcome to join us as we seek answers to help prepare us for our new journey.

We will meet at St. Louis de France Church, 1415 Don Mills Road, North York, ON. (Don Mills South of York Mills on East side of Don Mills)
Beginning Friday, March 16, 2012 @ 7:30 and going to April 27, 2012. The facilitator is Mary Muir.
To register call Deacon James Shaughnessy MSW., RSW., Psyn.D. at 416-921-1163 ext. 2227 or email jshaughn@cfstoronto.com

REGIS COLLEGE BOOK SALE APRIL 18TH-21ST

100 Wellesley Street West

Regis College is holding its first Annual Used Book Sale on April 18–21st at the College, 100 Wellesley St. West. We are accepting all categories of gently used books – soft and hard covers. If you wish to donate your books to our sale we ask that you bring them to the College during regular school hours. All proceeds will be directed towards financial support of furthering the education of young Jesuits and lay students For more information please call (416) 922-5474 ext.244; or go online to booksale@regiscollege.ca or www.regiscollege.ca/booksale. We welcome your support.

Founded by St. Paul of the Cross, every Passionist takes a special vow to spend his or her energies in promoting remembrance of the sufferings of Jesus, the memory of the Cross, and reflection of the meaning of the Cross for the world.